Fuel-press.



D. G. MGCAN. FUEL PRESS. APPLICATION FILED \TUNE14, 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

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INVENTOR ANDREW s GRAHAM co in oioMTflDsnAPHERs, WASWNGTDN. n o

D. 0. M0GAN FUEL PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MINI-314, 1909.

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APPLICATION IIL'ED JUNE 14, 1909.

Patented m 3, 1910.

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ATTORNEV WITNESSES ANDREW a GRAHA 00.. PnoTo-umccmvhms WASNINGTBN. D. c.

D. c. MoGAN.

FUEL PRESS.

I vAPPLICATION FILED JUNE14, 1909. Q 956,902. Patented May 3, 1910.

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'W/TNESSES; v C //VVEN7'OR TTORNEY.

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NTOR C// Patented May 3, 1910.

' gawk! D. G. MOGAN FUEL PRESS. APPLICATION rnJnn JUNE 14, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID C. MoCAN, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FUEL-PRESS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID C. ll/IOCAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los An ales and State of California, have invente certain new anduseful Improvements in Fuel- Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fuel press, and has articular reference to a machine for making artificial fuel into blocks or briquets from waste material, such as saw-dust, woodshavings and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine which will compress a quantity of loose waste material into a solid body, in which all of the strains due to high pressure are centralized and the reactionary effect upon relieving the pressure is offset by the concentration and intimate union of the particles composing the block and the equalization of the inherent strains.

Another object of this invention is to-provide a machine for the production of artificiul fuel from waste material, which makes the employment of a binder for the molecules of the resultant block unnecessary, and to provide a former for the blocks during the compression of the materials for the same, whereby absolute rigidity and stability of the finished fuel are preserved.

Another object of this invent-ion is to provide in connection with a fuel press, a novel and sim le agitator and force feed for the materia into the compression chamher, and a simple ejectin mechanism for forcing away from the walls of the mold a finished briquet and causing the discharge of the same therefrom.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of the features, details of construction and combination of parts as will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then be more Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 14, 190B.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Serial No. 502,148.

vertical section through the mold, showing the e3ectors, and the operating means for the eyectors, the dotted lines indicating the position of the tog lo and movable section of the mold when withdrawn. Fig. 6, is a vertlcal section of the mold showing the inoperativc position of the ejector-operating means, and Figv 7, is a side elevation, showing the mold sections separated, the operative positions of the ejecting plungers, and the operative ositions of the means for operating the e ector plungcrs.

Specifically referring to the drawings, 1, designates a base having mounted thereon two standards, 2 and 3. On said standard 2, is a boss 4, 1n which is journaled one end of a shaft 5, the other end of which shaft is sup ortcd by a standard 6. Mounted on said s raft 5, is a drive pulley 7, and a fly wheel 8. 9 designates a pinion also fixed on said shaft 5, and arranged to mesh with a gear wheel 10 mounted on a crank shaft, which is journaled in the upper ends of the standards 2 and 3. Onto said crank shaft 11, is a connecting rod 12 pivoted to a cross-head 13, which cross-head carries a plunger 14. Said cross-head operates between two guide plates 15 and 16, which are secured to lips or flanges 17, )rovided on the standards 2 and 3. Secure to the bottom of the said lips 17, is a cup 18, provided with an orifice l9, throu h which said plunger is arranged to extent and operate. Said cup 18 serves as a wiper for the plum or to remove therefrom all adhering partic es of wood shavings and the like, and to prevent the accumulation of such particles in the housing for the cross-head. 20 designates a hopper adapted to receive the loose waste material from a tube 21, provided with an interior or internal feed screw 22 by means of which the material is continually fed an der pressure to the hopper. Said hopper 20, is mounted on a late 23 which is secured to flanges 24: made integral with the standards 2 and 3, and is kerfed or ra-bbeted as seen in Fig. 8, to accommodate the projecting edge 25 of an agitator and force feed 26 mounted within the hopper 20 and seatc'dvin a recess 27 provided therefor in the plate 23. To prevent the compaction of wood shavings and like material in the hopper 20 and about the plunger 14, which shavings under pres sure readily form a coherent body, I pro vide in the agitator and force feed 26, a

sion of plurality of s iral vanes or ribs'28, which by reason of t eir acute inclination and the conicity of the agitator, tend to force down any material falling thereinto, and also to break up the bulk or solid mass of the material with which the hopper may have become clogged. A belt 29, connected with a.

pulley 30 made integral with the agitator 26, and with the end of said shaft 5, is arranged to rotate said agitator. To keep 'theibelt or chain in the pulley groove, the

of thestrains in the fuelblock, when the plunger is forced upon the mass of material confined within the compression chamber. The section 37 of said mold is movable, while the section 36' is made fast and rigid with the-base 1,-and the movementof said movable section is accomplished by .the mechanism describedvas follows: ,Pivoted to the ears 38 cast integral with -a plate 39 which is bolted to said section 37 ,is a toggle 4O pivoted toga link 41, which is splined. o-r keyed to a shaft .42 journaled in a bosshead 43 provided on the base 1. Fixed/co the outside of said shaft 42, is a ,member 44 pivoted to a sleeve 45 which isloosely and slidably mounted on a rod 46. A collar 47 is fixed upon said shaft and in close proximity to said sleeve 45 and this collar is arranged to abut against and forcethe me1nber 44 and its complementary parts rearwardly, when, the rod .46 isa'ctuated. Connected with saidsleeve 45 is a helical spring 48 coiled about said rod 46, and held-thereon by a nut .49 engaging the screwsthreaded extremity 50 of the rod, which nut also serves to regulate the; tensionof said spring. Thefunction of this spring .48, is-toprevent breakage and undue straining of the elements-operatively connected therewith, when foran reason the movable section 37 is prevented? from fully closing, in which casethe rod 46 continues to .travel against the tenthe spring carrying with it thercollar 47 without ,afiecting the accidentally locked position of the sleeve 45 and its appurtenant parts. They-rod 46, is connected to one. end of abell-crank 51 pivoted to the outside ofthe standard 3. O-nto the other endmfsaidbelhcrank 51, is;pivo.ted a link 52,.whichoarries-a roller 53 arrangedzto operate in thecam'groovez54of .a camqgear 5,5 journaledonthe standard 3, and arranged in mesh with a pinion 56 mounted on the crank shaft 11. 52 designates a strip pivoted tothe end of the link 52 carrying the roller 53, and to the standard 3, to hold the roller in the cam-groove 54 and insure the vertical operation of the link 52. This mechanism is clearly shown in Fig. 2. By this arrangement, the plunger operating in the mold or compression chamber, is designed to make two strokes before the cam portion of the camgear engages the roller, and through such engagement, zactuates the rod 46, and-eventually the-movable section 37 of them-old .35.

The liability of the fuel block-to adhere to the walls of'the compression chamber on account of the great pressure to which it is subjected, would prevent, the gravital [discharge of the briqnet from themold when the movable, section is moved away. To preventthis clinging tendency of the finished fuel block, and to absolutely insure the ejection of the same from the mold chamber, 1 have provided the following mechanism, shownin Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7. Extending through the walls of each section of the mold 35, isan ejecting plunger 57, heldnormally retracted by a helical spring 58 seated in a housing coredin the movable sections 36 and 37. These plungers 57, are provided with beads 59 having projecting lugs 60. On shafts 61, provided one each onandextending transversely'of said mold sections,

are mounted in oper-ativerelation to the lugs 60 on said plunger'heads, tangs 62, and on the ends of said shafts areifixed fingers 63 and 63. Pivotedto said stationarysection 36, is a bar '64.provided with a hooked end 65 arranged to engage the finger 63, and pivoted tothe movable section 37 is a similar bar 66 arranged in operative relation to the finger 63. When the sections of. the mold are closed, both bars 64 and 66 are held down by pins or studs 67 provided on the sections, as seen in Fig.6, and which pins 67 operate in thecut-away ortion 68 of the bars. W hen the sections begin to open,--the flat springs 69, fastened to the sectionsand exerting upward pressure against the bars 64. and 66, lift the said bars in contact with said pins or studs 67, and bring the hooked ends 65 and 65thereof in line withvthefin gers 63 and 63'. Aszthe opening movement of the movable section continues, the hooked ends 65 and65, engaging-the ends of the fingersn63 and 63, cause the tangs 62'to,impings against the plungers 57 and project the same into the mold chamber, thus freeing from the walls thereof the 'fuel block and allowing ituto fall through the .discharge opening 70 provided in the base 1, immediately below-the movable section 37. Before. the complete opening of themovable section hasvtaken placaand after theplungens have beenprojeetedtothelimit of their movement, the pins or studs 67, will have as cended the incllne 71, in which the cut-away portion of the bars terminate, and dislodged the hooked ends 65 and 65 of the bars from engagement with the finger ends 63 and 63, whereupon the ejecting plungers are returned to their normal positions by the springs 58.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows :Assuming that the plunger 14, has completed its first stroke within the mold 35 upon the loose material therein, and is about to be returned preparatory to the second compressive operation, it will be in the position substantially as shown in Fig. 3. In that position, the gear cam 55, receiving power from the pinion 56, will have revolved but for one half its circumference, holding the parts operatively connected therewith inactive. The continued revolution of the driving gear 10, causes a recession of the plunger 14:' from the chamber of the mold 35 to a height approximately on a line with the top of the agitator and force feed 26. When the plunger has lifted clear of the orifice in the bottom of the agitator, an additional charge of material is liberated fro-m the compacted mass within the hopper, and this charge falls into the chamber of the mold, while the spiral vanes or ribs 28, aided by the pressure of the continually inflowing supply, force the material into the mold. Upon the second downward movement of the plunger 14, the feed ports to the mold are closed thereby, and the compression of the additional charge upon -.the first charge, and a further compression of the original charge takes place. When the withdrawal of the plunger from the mold begins, the cam gear 55 will be in the position indicated in Fig. 2. The continued revolution of said cam gear, while the plunger is being withdrawn, causes the roller 53, to engage the cam groove 54, and depress the bell-crank 51, which through its intermediate connections, raises the toggle 40, and withdraws the movable section 37 of the mold. At the same time the hooks 65 and 65, engage the fingers 63 and 63, causing the retraction of the tangs 62, and the projection of the ejecting plungers into the mold chamber, whereupon the fuel block is discharged from the mold. Before the movable section of the mold has completed its rearward travel, the pins or studs 67, will have disengaged thehoo-ks 65 and 65 from the fingers'63 and 63, whereby the reseating of the ejecting plungers is effected. As the cam gear continues to revolve, the cam groove 54: will cause the roller 53 to rise, thereby producing an upward movement of the bell-crank 51, and throu h its connections, a forward movement 0 the toggle 40 and the movable section 37 of the mold. The toggle 4:0 is carried for a small distance beyond the dead-center of its joint with the link 41, and in this position of the toggle, the mold section 37, is held absolutely locked during the two compressive movements of the plunger 14:.

What I claim, is

1. In a fuel press, a mold comprising a stationary section and a movable section, a plunger operating in said mold, and means to move said movable section in one direction to discharge the contents of said mold, and in the opposite direction to close the compression chamber previous to the complete recession of said plunger from the compression chamber.

2. In a fuel press, a mold comprising a stationary section and a movable section, said mold having a dome-shaped bottom, a plunger operating in said mold and provided with a dome-shaped shoe, a conical agitator and force feed communicating with the interior of said mold, means to operate said agitator, means to move said movable section upon the recession of the plunger, ejecting means carried by said mold and operable by the movement thereof in one direction, and means to operate said moving means.

3. In a fuel press, the combination with a base and standards mounted thereon, said base being provided with a discharge opening, of a sectional mold on said base, said mold having a dome-shaped bot-tom, a plunger provided with a dome-shaped shoe and arranged to operate in said mold, cared means to operate said plunger, a rotatory force feed above said mold, an ejecting mechanism connected with said mold, and a geared cam to move one section of said mold and actuate said ejecting means to cause a discharge of the contents of the mold through the discharge opening in said base.

4. In a fuel block machine, the combination with a base having a discharge opening and a plurality of standards mounted on said base, of a sectional mold on said base, a hopper, a feed therefor, a rotating agitator between said hopper and said mold, a plunger arranged to operate in said mold, geared means journaled in said standards to actuate said plunger, an ejecting mechanism connected with said mold, and means to move one section of said mold in one direction to operate said ejecting mechanism and discharge a fuel block through the discharge openlng in said base, said means also being arranged to move said sect-ion in the opposite direction previous to the recession of the plunger from the mold, and to hold said section locked during the compression stroke of the plunger in the mold.

5. In a fuel press, a sectional mold, a plunger operating therein, an ejecting plunger in each section of said mold, means on said mold to operate and trip said ejecting plungers, and means'to-move one section of said mold to control both said ejecting plunge-rs.

- in each section of :saidimold, means to operate said ejecto-rs, arrod on-each section ofsaid mold arranged to operate said ejector operating means, and means to move said movable section to control said rods.

'7. In a fuel press, a mold comprising a stationary section andamovable section, a plunger operating in said mold, means to operate said plunger, an ejector in each sectlon of said mold, meansto hold said ejectors normally retracted, a shaft journaled on each section of said mold, tangs on said shafts and in operative .relation to said ejectors, a plurality of'fingers on said shafts, a rod oneaeh section of said mold and in operative relation to said fingers,.meansto move said movable section to cause said rods to engage said fingers and operate said ejectors and, means to trip said rods to cause arreturn of said plungers tonormal position.

8. In a fuelpress, a mold comprising a stationary section and a movable section, a plunger operating in said mold, an ejector in-each section-of said mold, 111631182130 hold said ejectorsnorma'lly retracted, shafts provided in said sections, tangs. mounted thereon and in operative relation to vsaid ejectors, vfingers carried by saidshafts, means pivoted to said sectionsto operate said-fingers and ejectors, and -means to move said movable section to control said finger-operating means.

'9. In-a fuel press, a mold comprising a stationary section and a movable section, a plunger operating in said mold, a normally inoperative ejector housed in each section of said mold, meansto operate said ejectors, arodon each section of said mold to operate said ejector operating means, means to-move said movable section to control said rods, and means to-trip said rods from engagement with said ejector operating means at the end of the movement of said-movable section in one direction.

10. "In a fuel press, thecombination With a base, and standards mounted'thereon, of a drive shaft, a support therefor a spur gear on saidsha'ft, a crank-shaft mounted on said standards,-a gear Wheelon said crank-shaft and in-mes-h'vvith said spur gear, a plunger carried by said crank-shaft,- a sectional mold on said base, an agitator and force feed above said mold,-means connected with said drive shaft to rotate said agitatona cam gear on oneof said standards, a pinion on said crankshaft arranged in mesh With said cam gear, and 'means connected :With said cam gear and 'one'section of said mold open and closesaid section. 1

nae-e02 11. In a -fuel press,'=the combination with shaft to operate said cam gear, and means connected With said cam gear and shaft and operable by: the revolution of said cam gear .to open and close one section of said mold and thereby control said ejecting mechanism.

'12. In a fuel press, the combination with a; base and a plurality of standards mounted thereon, of-a crank shaft journaled in-said standardsmieans to operate said crank shaft, a plunger carried by said crank-shaft, a sectional mold in which said plunger is arranged to operate, an ejecting mechanism connected with saidmold, trunnions on said base, a shaft journaled in said trunnions,

a link on said shaft, a toggle pivotedtosaid linlnand one section of said mold, a cam gear on one of said standards, a gear Wheel on saidcrank shaft to operate said cam gear, a bell crank pivoted to one of said standards, means pivoted to one end of said bell crank to operate said toggle and one section of said mold-,and means connected with the other'end of said bell-crank and said: cam gear to operate said bell-crank.

18. In a fuel press, the combination With a base and standards mounted thereon, of

a sectional mold mounted on said base, a

rotatory agitator for said mold, means to operate said agitator, a plunger operating in said: mold, means to operate said plunger, and means'to mve one section of said-mold at the end of each second .stroke of said plunger, said means comprisinga toggle, an

crating-shaft therefor, a rod, a sleeve on said rod, a, member on said shaft andpivoted to said sleeve, a collar on said rod to operate said sleeve, a buffer carried by said rod, a belle-rank mounted onone of said standardstoactuate said rod, a gear cam to actuate said-bell crank, and means to operate said bell crank.

14. In a fuel press, a mold comprising a stationary and a movable section, saidmold said mold upon the recession of said plunger therefrom to actuate said ejectors.

15. In a fuel press, a mold comprising a stationary section and a movable section, said mold having a dome-shaped bottom, a plunger operating therein and provided With a dome-shaped shoe, a conical agitator above said mold, said agitator being provided with spiral vanes to force material to said mold, means-to rotate said agitator, an ejector eX- tending through each section of said mold, shafts on each section of said mold, tangs on said shafts and in operative relation to said ejectors, fingers on the ends of said shafts,

bars pivoted to the sections of said mold and provided with hooked ends arranged in line With the ends of said fin ers, means to move one section of said mol to cause said bars to engage said fingers and actuate said ejectors, and means to trip said bars from engagement With said fin ers.

In testimony Whereo I affiX my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

DAVID C. MOCAN.

Witnesses:

H. M. BARSTOW, G. M. CALDWELL. 

